The Reasons Behind the UK's Single Green Party Member in Parliament

Overview of UK Electoral System and Its Impact on Proportional Representation

Great Britain, despite its advancements in many areas, falls squarely behind in the realm of proportional representation. The current system, known as 'first past the post' (FPTP), is notably outdated, marked by its inability to proportionally represent a diverse range of political views in the House of Commons. In the system, each constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) based on the candidate with the most votes. This approach often results in a two-party dominated system where smaller parties struggle to gain parliamentary representation.

First Past the Post System and Its Wasted Votes

For instance, under FPTP, in a scenario with four candidates, a candidate could win with as few as 26 out of 100 votes, leading to a significant number of 'wasted' votes. As an example, if a constituency has four candidates and their vote distribution is 36 for A, 32 for B, and 32 for C, then A, who received the most votes, is elected. However, the votes from B and C (64 votes) are deemed wasted. This system often leads to representational imbalance, as evidenced by the dominance of the Conservative and Labour parties, and the underrepresentation of Green Party members.

The Brighton Pavilion Constituency and Caroline Lucas

The Brighton Pavilion constituency is a notable exception where the Green Party has managed to maintain parliamentary representation. In 2010, Caroline Lucas won the seat with 31.3% of the valid votes, securing a majority of just over a thousand. Her continued success at the subsequent general elections underscores the importance of an individual who can effectively represent the constituency's interests. The Liberal Democrats will not stand against Caroline Lucas in 2019, giving her a strong chance to secure re-election.

Referendum on Alternative Voting Methods

There have been attempts to change the electoral system. In 2010, the Liberal Democrats, then in coalition with the Conservatives, insisted on a referendum on alternative voting methods, such as the Alternative Vote (AV) system. Through AV, voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate gets an absolute majority, the lowest-ranked candidate's votes are redistributed to the next preference. The referendum resulted in 67.9% of voters opposing the AV system, which was a key sticking point for changing the electoral system.

Proportional Representation and Northern Ireland

Constitutionally, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that implements a form of proportional representation (PR). This difference in electoral system is primarily due to historical and political reasons, and it has resulted in a more balanced representation of various political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly. In contrast, the rest of Britain is left with only a solitary, albeit very welcome and busy, Green Party representative in the House of Commons.

Conclusion and Reflection

The UK's current electoral framework has significant limitations in terms of democratic representation. The dominant two-party system often mirrors the continued support for the status quo, with smaller parties such as the Green Party struggling to gain substantial traction within the House of Commons. The lone Green Party MP in the UK highlights the inefficiencies and biases inherent in the FPTP system. While there have been efforts to reform the system, the status quo remains relatively unchanged, adversely affecting the representation of diverse political views.

For the upcoming UK general election, it is important to consider whether a reform of the electoral system is necessary to ensure more representative and fair outcomes. The Green Party and other smaller parties should be provided equal opportunities to gain parliamentary representation, which is essential for the UK's democracy to fully thrive.